AINAA is going to organize a Get-together @ Delhi/NCR on 17th December’ 2017. It will be a one-day meet for which the agenda and venue will be declared soon. We will also be posting the names of our Chief Guest and other distinguished guests, who are going to interact with and motivate our alumni on the occasion. This invitation is for Navodayans from all over the country. Think, decide and kindly confirm your availability by November 30, 2017 so that we can PROCEED accordingly.

This meet is another effort towards the fulfillment of our motto: give back to the society. Our little effort can shape the future of our young navodayans and the society as a whole. We request everybody to please feel free to contribute your ideas/views in order to make this event memorable and successful so that we can carry the torch of light of our socially responsible Navodaya alumni and students to the future.

Few points to note for the meet are given below:

The arrangements for the meet will be simple, without any extravaganza, pomp and show.

The participants will arrange for their own travel and stay.

To utilize the time for the meet better, the speakers will need to submit their issues of discussion well in advance to the organizers through mail or Whatsapp. This is meant to avoid any unnecessary or ambiguous talk on the occasion.

Participants active on the ground will be given priority for sharing their views.

The schedule of the day will be published on our website one day in advance though it may be slightly altered subject to availability of our guests.

Last but not the least, volunteers are always invited. For any further query or assistance, please feel free to write to us at: coordinators.ainaa@gmail.com. Or you may kindly call any one of us:

We JNVK alumni are organizing medical camp for flood affected areas in various places of our district Katihar. Our coordinators right from the first batch to the recent batch are involved in this team work. The end to end workflow goes from planning to implementing the programs to fulfill our core objective. However we do keep analysing and evaluating ourselves from time to time in order to improve our team spirit and efficiency.

We work as team where entire JNVK family is involved in playing an important role in this worst situation. The food packaging is being done by our lovely students under the guidance of our teachers at JNVK campus as advised by DM sir.

Medicines are being donated by our own alumni, Amit Chaudhary bhaiya, Abhinav bhaiya, and Alok bhaiya who are also coordinating with people who can make things possible at ground level. We have received medicines for upcoming 10 camps. We are playing double entry role under the guidance of our BigB Dr. Rahul Bhaiya who is guiding us from Singapore.

Our brothers and sisters on the ground who make things happen positively are to be appreciated more than anything else because it would not have been possible without them. The coordination between us enables smoother movement towards our target. We are trying to cover all the flood affected areas and its going on well, kudos to our heroes Reza Bhaiya and Ranjeet bhaiya. Seeing us, other organizations have also come to conduct medical camps in the same area the next day. Chauki, kadwa block is one of the example of it, where more than 250 people turned up in a day. Samaili is another example of it.

Donations and Funds part is being taken care of by Rajkishor and others. All our recent batch coordinators are spreading the message in social media so that we can get donation from all the corners.

We are going to organize a Get Together @JNVKatihar, Bihar on 23rd, 24th and 25th in the month of December 2017. This is decided after having the discussion with DM of Katihar.

Most important, this is exclusively for JNVK Alumni. As we all know that we are working/living/studying in various places of India. By hosting this meet at our lovely campus, our aim will be twofold: First, to know each other and propose for future plan through our mutual discussion. Secondly, to make this event a memorable event via our interaction as we know for the development of any action, interaction is very important.

It will be a meet for three days. We will publish the objectives of this meet soon. The chief guests and guests, who are going to interact and motivate the alumni, will not be a surprise this time. All the JNVK alumni are invited for this meeting. Think, Decide and kindly confirm your availability so that we can PROCEED accordingly. We want to know roughly how many of alumni will gather for the event so that we can make better arrangements.

Dear friends, we can’t return what navodaya has given us but at least we can try to give back to the society as much as possible by participating in this event. Our little effort can shape the future of those growing navodayans. We request everybody to please feel free to put your ideas/views in order to make this event memorable and successful and also to carry forward the torch of responsible JNV alumni and students.

We are speechless and falling short of words to express our feelings to see the overwhelming response to stand for each other. Few days back we had sought for contributions for our fellow Narasimha and we are happy to share that the contributions received by now are much more than our expectation.

As you all know, our brother Narsimha, a fellow Navodayan from JNV Medak (1991-98), met with tragic accident two years ago which resulted in amputation of his leg and an infection in kidneys, lungs and spinal cord. He is from poor, agriculture dependent family and is father of three kids. His brother died recently in another unfortunate incident who was the sole earner and financial supporter of his family.

The minimum need for treatment of Narsimha as told to us was Rs. 5 lacs, and we had set this amount as our target for collection of contribution. But we are very happy to share that this target was achieved by May 30 only, and still the contributions kept flowing. We continued with this on the advice of some of our fellow alumni, and we kept collecting till 5th of June. Now we request not to send any more contributions.

Please find the details of contribution made till now are given below:

We are thankful from the bottom of our heart for every single contribution we received from all the corners for our brother Narasimha. We couldn’t have done it without you! Your kind spirit to help made it possible to achieve the goal within no time, which is really commendable and beyond our imagination. This moment is making us to shout out loud “Hami Navoday hon“!!!

At the end, we appreciate the dedication of all our coordinators, the credit definitely goes to their round the clock efforts to make it possible and once again it is proved that together we can make a difference!

As you all know, our brother Narsimha, a fellow navodayan from JNV Medak (1991-98), met with tragic accident two years ago which resulted in amputation of his leg and an infection in kidneys, lungs and spinal cord. He is from poor, agriculture dependent family and is father of three kids. His brother died recently in another unfortunate incident who was the sole earner and financial supporter of his family.

Inherently, we know we are navodayans and we have been designed to live for something greater than ourselves. Our greatest successes in life are often found in helping others. Narasimha needs our help in order to get better treatment and continue supporting his family. It will be a shame to see a navodayan lose his life due to lack of money. So, please come forward and join hands together to help him survive in whatever way you can and your support will give hope to him and his family. We truly appreciate your help and efforts in helping Narasimha!

Someone has rightly said that “Nobody can do everything, but everyone can do something”. It is in fact the collective effort of everyone to make small contributions with a lot of heart. Little efforts count, and you don’t have to be concerned about making small contribution as everyone’ small contribution will collectively be a big one. And it is the effort that counts!!!

Some donations have come to the account of Rajkishor and Narasimha while some of have donated through other channels including Milaap. Additionally, the details of contribution made till now are given below:

We request all our JNV Alumni, family and friends to help raise the minimum requiredamount of Rupees 500,000 to meet his treatment costs. At the same time, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all of you who have been supporting this cause.

You may donate online or through our many other ways like through Paytm # 9619500732. We have made it easy to help in ways that work for you.

This is a beautiful article written by our respected English Ma’m Ansamma Kurian about the theory she perceived from one of our Navodaya sister “Eloni”.

C .H. Eloni was not just a smart girl and the school captain at the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya in Senapati, Manipur; she was among the sweetest, stoutest and most adventurous of students. This JNV, situated amid a serene landscape atop a mountain at Mao Gate was unique in terms of the background of the students: they were from different Naga tribes, Meiteis and Nepalese.

Though the groups were different, they shared a common trait; they were always cheerful. This might sound like a Utopian claim, but I speak from the experience of having been with the people for three years. Songs and laughter often mark their presence and even their very existence.

They live very simple lives, very close to nature. They are healthy, and devoid of the cares and worries that have become the general hallmarks of modern life.

This residential school, like all JNVs in India, had a common mess hall where students had all their meals together, and the teachers in charge accompanied them. It was tough facing the hostile and unpredictable weather of Mao Gate. But taught by the rough terrain to be brave, they had a way of fighting it out. The biting cold wind that frequently blew over the mountains were beaten back by the melodious singing and hearty laughter of the merry people, who preferred to cling to one another even during their walks.

“Ma’am, the paper was tough, but we don’t know how to be upset.”

They were good at everything, except at what we officially call academic studies. The science subjects were a real snag; most of them preferred to ignore them. Some tried very hard to master it, with hardly any results.

On the day of the Physics examination, the Physics teacher informed us that the questions were tough. But on my way to the quarters I found Eloni and her friends laughing and talking in front of the school building soon after the examination. Passing by them I made a casual remark: “It seems the paper was quite easy. You are all very happy.” Eloni’s quick reply was something I never expected, and I have never heard anything like it again. She said: “Ma’am, the paper was tough, but we don’t know how to be upset.”

In my 25 years as a teacher I had never ever heard such a beautiful and touching reply. Who else could say such a thing except those blessed, simple, sweet, hardworking mountain folk who have the worst of the troubles the world can offer but also the purest of joy that their divine life offers to the pure at heart!

Like most others, I had lived with the impression that one had no right to be happy if the examination paper was tough. Your very life seemed to depend on that piece of paper. What an eye-opener that simple remark from Eloni was!

Eloni wasn’t a lazy kid. She worked hard, took every possible step to master her subjects. But when that didn’t happen, she was strong enough, like many of her own people, to just let it pass and not to be upset about the outcomes.

Life went on and I was transferred to a school in Kerala, virtually at the other end of India. What a contrast it was! In the most literate State of India, I saw most of my students’ faces clouded, heads weighed down with worries, tears over half a mark lost or an ‘A+’ not achieved. These students had forgotten what laughter was, and knew only to be upset in spite of their achievements and the relative comforts they enjoyed. I just wonder what Eloni would have thought of these friends of her age with better grades but a poorer life experience.

Will we ever succeed in making our children realise that they can do their best and leave the rest, but still need not forgo their laughter. After all, what is this life all about if we cannot have a hearty laugh?

Three cheers to Eloni for teaching me the best lesson of my life. The words go on echoing in my heart even after ten long years, “We don’t know how to be upset ma’am…” And that beaming face lingers in the mind forever. Thank you, Eloni.

We are able to see that there are many navodayans who are trying to work for our lovely navodaya and alumni. It is very nice to see this. But at the same time, I would like to mention that we need to stand together in this effort. We have spent seven bright golden years of our life at Navodaya, and we used to sing a prayer that said: हम स्वराज्य की रिचा नवल, भारत की नवलय हों; नव सूर्योदय, नव चंद्रोदय, हमी नवोदय हों!! And certainly this was not meant to live a life where we feel divided with our own brothers and sisters.

We are not working for power or position here, but rather for a noble cause. If anybody has any political agenda, I think this is not the right venue for this purpose. We need to work selflessly for our brothers and sisters, and then only we can make a sustainable contribution for the Navodayans. We can imbibe only those qualities in our juniors which we are able to live up to ourselves. We are the guides for our juniors, and hence we need to be very responsible in our efforts. We certainly do not want a family (I am talking of JNV family) where people stand divided, but rather where people are working harmoniously. Hence, ensuring harmony is the baseline of all such efforts that we make for the society.

Just give a sincere thought to it, and see if this is something that you would really like to be, whether you will really feel happy being divided. If not, we need to dispel our ego, and join together. Remember that we are setting a trend by our actions. Just think what will happen if our juniors too start working separately? Will we ever be able to fulfill our goal this way? I recall the poem written by one of my lovely sisters, Shweta Sharma, and I find it quite befitting here:

Come on, join hands as it is
Time to rewind the grand old days,
With new energy and enthusiasm
And refreshing charming new ways

We want to listen to
Your plans and ideas bubbling
And you can always tell us about
Something good or even troubling

Great things are shaped by
Steps simple and small
And to make a great deal occur,
We need participation of you all

Together we would bring on
Fun, activities and serious talk
We promise to hold your hand
And be with you in life’s every walk

And we are sure you would do the same
After all we strengthen each other
So let’s join hands and put in efforts
To move the association further

Together we can serve the society
In whatever way we deem fit
Linking the small steps together
And walk hand in hand without conflict

We should stand up and act now
As gone past the time to think
And we have the ability and will
To create magic in a blink

Greetings from All India Navodaya Alumni Association (AINAA). It is a pleasure to share with you the developments at our end. We had a detailed discussion today with NVS Commissioner, Mr. B. K. Singh and NVS Joint Commissioner, Mr. Naresh Kumar about our efforts, initiatives and role of the alumni to contribute for Navodaya. They assured all possible help and support for united and positive contribution for Navodaya by us.

Some time back, we started to invite our alumni to act as coordinators for our loving Navodaya Family: Coordinators Invitation. In continuation with it, We would like to send a message here.

Those who want to take the responsibility of representing their school, please let us know. Two persons from each school can take this responsibility to coordinate with their school. This will enable the continuity of the activities in case any coordinator is unable to make himself / herself available to fulfill the responsibilities. If the coordinators belong to different batches, preferentially with a difference of three batches, it will help us to cover all the batches easily.

For proper implementation of this plan, we would like to have some commitment from you. The coordinators/volunteers need to be active after assuming this responsibility. I think we all agree to this. If we do not get the needed response from any coordinator/volunteer, then we will send a reminder mail expecting some prompt response. But somehow, if because of some other commitment, any coordinator is not able to give one’s precious time, then he/she will need to delegate the assigned task to some other backup volunteer. In the worst case, we might need to remove our friend from coordinators list and take the nominations for the same again. We may sound little strict here, but if we want to do something good, we need to have zeal and readiness. If anybody has any question or any doubt, kindly let us know. We would try to clarify. You are most welcome here.

Now, let me list out the expectations from our coordinators:

The alumni (coordinators) representing their school will make coordination between (a) other alumni of the school (b) the present students & (c) Principal & Teachers of their school. They will visit their school regularly, at least once in a year and keep others updated about the particular Navodaya. In case, they are unable to go, they may send representatives who are well aware of the requirements there.

They must be willing to give 5 hours/week of their quality time in interacting with other alumni representatives in person or through internet/ phone calls.

They will undertake the responsibility of coordinating with other alumni of their school for the events, and meets organized by the alumni, after communicating them in due time.

They shall raise funds on behalf of their school alumni in case of serious needs. And in case of severe necessity, they may contribute some small amount for the welfare of students themselves.

You may suggest/propagate/implement/communicate any good idea about/to/by Active Alumni from other JNVs too.

Looking forward to hear from you. You may kindly put your name here or E-mail to rewasmriti@gmail.com. Suggestions on any points referred above are valuable to us.

Proper and clear Communication will prevent any misunderstandings and will help us work together efficiently!!

Everybody is welcome to learn and serve with us! If you have any question/suggestion/concern, Please always feel free to let us know!

Its been long time since I wrote something on my blog ‘Turning the wheel’. Few of my close friends, brothers and sisters who keep reading the blog called me and told, “aapne bahut dino se kuchh nahi likha hai blog par“. Akhand, “Di..jab se aap group se gayi hai group dull sa ho gya hai”...Some of them wrote me on FB asking that where are you my ‘universal didi’? Shubham, Ahha…I love this word which gives me an immense feeling of enthusiasm. My friend Borkar bizarre’s peculiar style ‘where were u madam??’ I liked it. 🙂 Umesh, I am thankful to you as you made me start writing again. Mini, your Mishti wants to meet you! Ashish Sarkar, sorry, I am back mere gulabjamun. 😉 Sudhir Teotia, You are simply awesome who kept the flag flying: ‘Hami Navodaya Hon’. I hope you understand what I mean to say. Satyajeet, tumhara kuchh khoya tha, mila kya? Tumhare aanshu agar tham gaye hon to aage badhen? 😛

Let me start by recalling something. Today is teachers day so I picked up the phone and wished some of my loving teachers and my dear mother who had dedicated herself to this profession on this occassion. When I speak of my revered teachers I am transported back to my school days where we used to sing this sing this prayer “Lab pe aati hai dua banke tamanna meri. Zindagi shamma ki surat ho khuda ya meri….”

Honestly, I don’t know why but this prayer is coming alive to me since morning and I can’t put it to rest. I believe this is even sung during the morning assembly in various schools in India. It was written by a freedom fighter Dr. Iqbal.

I love all kinds of music but you know some days you just want to hear things you grew up listening to. It soothes the soul, calms the mind and reminds me of lost days. This soulful nasheed has been sung by melodious but a little unheard singer — Siza. And I have started humming it now…I have been sitting at my desk and gathering my thoughts. One question that is not leaving my mind is – what next? I cannot escape myself. There is no escaping, there is no explaining; your voice is unheard and you are silent to those who are searching for you…..